Peter, Franz

Oberleutnant Franz Peter

Franz (Francis) Peter was born on 8 October 1896 in Bydgoszcz, in present-day Poland. He spent his childhood and youth in Vienna. However, the family came from Silesia.

In the Austro-Hungarian Air Force

He first served on the Russian front as an observer. Later he took a pilot course. After graduation he was sent to South Tyrol to Flik 3J under the command of Oberleutnant Friedrich Navratil, where he flew fighter aircraft Albatros D.III.


On 16 July 1918, in collaboration with pilots Stefan Stec and F. Navratil, he achieved his first two victories over Italian Hanriot HD-1 fighter aircraft over Val del Concei near Lake Garda.


On 4 August 1918, he shot down an Italian bomber SVA-5. On 20 August and 17 September he shot down the bomber Pomilio. On 7 October 1918 he shot down a British fighter Sopwith Camel near Tarentum.


During the last 5 months of the war he gained all his victories. He ended the war with the rank of Oberleutnant (lieutenant).

In the Polish Air Force

After the end of the war he decided to join the Polish Air Force. He first served in the Lviv Defence Air Unit, protecting the city from Ukrainian soldiers in the first act of the Polish-Russian War. There he flew as a pilot of a reconnaissance plane, often with Stanislaw Pietruski as an observer.


He participated with him in several attacks on ground targets. On April 30, 1919, he and Pietruski provided significant support to the ground troops. Peter was wounded on 14 May 1919.


From February to 6 March 1920, Peter commanded the 6th Scout Squadron (Eskadra Wywiadowczą) in the Ternopil area.


After the war he worked at the Central Air Force Depots in Warsaw (Centralne Zakłady Lotnicze). Afterwards, he worked at the Institute of Aviation Technical Research (Instytucie Badań Technicznych Lotnictwa) on the production of new aircraft engines. However, he was still a member of the 2nd Aviation Regiment in Kraków.


In 1929 he designed a not very powerful radial engine Peterlot (80 hp), which was produced in 9 pieces. On 31 August 1934 he left active military service and was transferred to the reserve.


After that he was the director of technical production of the "Avia" aircraft factory (Wytwórni Maszyn Precyzyjnych "Avia").
In 1933, together with A. Senkowski at PZInż (Państwowe Zakłady Inżynierii), he designed the PS-II Petersen engine (90 hp) - 11 units were produced.


In 1934 he designed the 4-cylinder Avia P-4 (100 hp) and Avia 3 (63 hp).


He died in 1968 in Warsaw.

Promotions and decorations in the Polish Air Force:

Sources:
www.theaerodrome.com
http://www.swwisa.net/kuklft/aces.html
http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franciszek_Peter

Oberleutnant Franz Peter

* 08.10.1896, Vienna, Austria
+ XX.XX.1968, Warsaw, Poland


Austro-Hungarian fighter ace with six kills.
Pilot of K. u K. Luftfahrtruppe.
Pilot of the 9th Polish Air Force.

List of victories.

Honours:

- Order of the Iron Crown, Third Class with war decoration and swords on ribbon,
- Military Cross of Merit, Third Class,
- Medal of Valor,
- Military Meritorious Service Medal

Sources:
www.theaerodrome.com
http://www.swwisa.net/kuklft/aces.html